Brazilian Agriculture
Counterpoint
Following from a distance, it has been interesting to see how Brazil has become more politicized. I left Brazil 21 years ago, when I immigrated to Canada. But the old adage has never been as clear to me as it is today, I left Brazil, but Brazil has never left me. The same and perhaps even more acutely applies to my undergrad institution ESALQ, University of São Paulo campus in Piracicaba, a top research center in agriculture in the world (http://en.esalq.usp.br/node/849)
I am an avid reader of everything that happens in our country, in agriculture, and in the Brazilian business environment. It is very interesting to have an outsider perspective of all. Added to that, there are the academic perspectives of those issues, which come from my professional background. I have worked as associate dean and associate professor in organizational studies, at the Bissett School of Business (mru.ca/bissett) in Calgary. My academic work focuses on sustainability, business ethics, and decision making processes.
The first point I want to make is the absolute delight that I have from seeing how the Brazilian agriculture has evolved. It is the main reason behind the Brazilian economic progress; the data showing that is unquestionable. It is also obvious how much our school, ESALQ, has been a major force behind that progress in the sector. With my soul of an ESALQueano, I am filled with pride in seeing the technological developments created by the agronomist colleagues at ESALQ and all over our beautiful country, in various research and extension institutes, as well as in the private sector. There is no doubt to anyone that ESALQ and its alumni are in fact on a very successful mission, forming the largest core of knowledge about tropical agriculture on the planet.
The second point, and here I return to my first sentence in this text, relates to the fact that Brazil still faces enormous difficulties to find a path towards a balanced social and sustainable development of its society. Interestingly, the evidence shows that both facets, social development and environmental protection, are strongly interconnected. It is impossible to solve one side, without including the other. I would go even further, emphasizing that there are strong support to the idea that social and sustainability issues are actually becoming impediments to future economic prosperity in our planet.
The failure to introduce economic solutions that equally promote social development and establish a sustainable environment have prevented Brazil from leaving its underdeveloped situation. Finding its way in these two fronts will demand that the agriculture sector takes proactive steps. Here again, ESALQ could take the lead. Our school and their alumni need to engage in the political discussion inherent in these topics. This discussion is alive and runs on high voltage in the current Brazilian rhetoric. It is unthinkable the the Brazilian agricultural sector, as its greatest economic force, might choose to be silent to address social and environmental challenges. On both fronts, the solutions will be more political than technicological. This is exactly where I see that the sector and ESALQ could take a more progressive agenda.
At times, I noticed that the dominant rhetoric in the agri-sector to be deleterious to the social and sustainability issues that hurt our country. If we are to be honest with ourselves, we can not deny some critical and central factors. I briefly add a limited, but factual, list of points below:
In the environmental area:
Following from a distance, it has been interesting to see how Brazil has become more politicized. I left Brazil 21 years ago, when I immigrated to Canada. But the old adage has never been as clear to me as it is today, I left Brazil, but Brazil has never left me. The same and perhaps even more acutely applies to my undergrad institution ESALQ, University of São Paulo campus in Piracicaba, a top research center in agriculture in the world (http://en.esalq.usp.br/node/849)
I am an avid reader of everything that happens in our country, in agriculture, and in the Brazilian business environment. It is very interesting to have an outsider perspective of all. Added to that, there are the academic perspectives of those issues, which come from my professional background. I have worked as associate dean and associate professor in organizational studies, at the Bissett School of Business (mru.ca/bissett) in Calgary. My academic work focuses on sustainability, business ethics, and decision making processes.
The first point I want to make is the absolute delight that I have from seeing how the Brazilian agriculture has evolved. It is the main reason behind the Brazilian economic progress; the data showing that is unquestionable. It is also obvious how much our school, ESALQ, has been a major force behind that progress in the sector. With my soul of an ESALQueano, I am filled with pride in seeing the technological developments created by the agronomist colleagues at ESALQ and all over our beautiful country, in various research and extension institutes, as well as in the private sector. There is no doubt to anyone that ESALQ and its alumni are in fact on a very successful mission, forming the largest core of knowledge about tropical agriculture on the planet.
The second point, and here I return to my first sentence in this text, relates to the fact that Brazil still faces enormous difficulties to find a path towards a balanced social and sustainable development of its society. Interestingly, the evidence shows that both facets, social development and environmental protection, are strongly interconnected. It is impossible to solve one side, without including the other. I would go even further, emphasizing that there are strong support to the idea that social and sustainability issues are actually becoming impediments to future economic prosperity in our planet.
The failure to introduce economic solutions that equally promote social development and establish a sustainable environment have prevented Brazil from leaving its underdeveloped situation. Finding its way in these two fronts will demand that the agriculture sector takes proactive steps. Here again, ESALQ could take the lead. Our school and their alumni need to engage in the political discussion inherent in these topics. This discussion is alive and runs on high voltage in the current Brazilian rhetoric. It is unthinkable the the Brazilian agricultural sector, as its greatest economic force, might choose to be silent to address social and environmental challenges. On both fronts, the solutions will be more political than technicological. This is exactly where I see that the sector and ESALQ could take a more progressive agenda.
At times, I noticed that the dominant rhetoric in the agri-sector to be deleterious to the social and sustainability issues that hurt our country. If we are to be honest with ourselves, we can not deny some critical and central factors. I briefly add a limited, but factual, list of points below:
In the environmental area:
- Brazil is a world leader in the consumption of pesticides per hectare.
- Due to the Brazilian agricultural model, we have adopted genetically modified organisms openly, without fully understanding their environmental risks. While, other countries have adopted it more cautiously.
- Erroneous granting of water-use rights for irrigation has caused water shortages and are at the root of unsustainable situations for the nearby communities.
- Irresponsible deforestation of watersheds has depleted water resources, partially caused by agricultural activity, making it one of the causes of water scarcity.
- Extensive, low tech livestock production has created the largest pressure on Brazilian forests, with irreversible damage to the Amazon Forest and Brazilian Cerrados.
- The wages of the agricultural sector are among the lowest in the Brazilian productive sector. It is only in this sector that we still find situations that are analogous to slavery in Brazil.
- In the Brazilian rural setting, we find some of the most serious and violent human rights violations. For example, we could point to violence against small farmers, associated to land ownership issues.
- In this same aspect, we have been witnesses to acts of extreme violence against the Brazilian aboriginal population, who live in legally protected areas.
- The unproductive latifundia, land speculation and land grabbing by powerful farmers are still a serious rural problem.
- The current agricultural model favours large-scale agribusiness and hurts the family farm.
I know that there will be discomfort in reading the above list and perhaps the reaction:
- Yikes! C'mon! Farming is the most important reason behind Brazil's economic prosperity. Farmers work from sunrise to sunset, operate in a sector with absurd taxation regime, they can count on the government for nothing, and you want to see the agriculture sector to be the solution to all these social ills!
My point of view? Welcome to the twenty-first century! Questions about social responsibility and sustainability are getting critical to capitalist and entrepreneurial initiatives worldwide. If for-profit enterprises fail to realize that they are part of the problem, intentionally or not, the political process could impose conditions to their operations, one way or another. See the recent revival of populist movements all over the world.
My fear is that the solutions can be totally counterproductive if the Brazilian agri-sector fails to enter this dialogue - note, dialogue is the opposite to taking dogmatic positions. There is an imperative over the profession of agronomists to help seek solutions to social and environmental problems, alongside the broader society.
The good news is that many companies and sectors all over the world, with some exemplary cases in Brazil, are waking up to the fact that the agri-sector can and should be part of the solution seeking initiatives. When this happens, it becomes clear that sustainable social progress is not a utopia. It is, in fact, a palpable and inexorable reality. Only the societies, sectors, and companies that understand such a reality will prosper in the long run.
The beginning of this journey, totally new for Brazilian agronomists, starts with dialogue with the affected communities. It needs to evolve through the questioning of truths, which are rooted in the past and blind to the challenges of tomorrow. If there is no reevaluation of past dogmas, it is quite easy to fall for posturing and to take inflexible political positions. The biggest barrier to progress on this front is that, usually, the agricultural professionals have a strong technical background, but a socio-political understanding that is superficial. We must have the humility to learn, to listen, to develop the intention to find joint solutions.
I hope this short text is seen as an invitation to reflection.
Originally published in Portuguese
http://www.adealq.org.br/blog/Contraponto-(Katuaba;-F85)-1856
- Yikes! C'mon! Farming is the most important reason behind Brazil's economic prosperity. Farmers work from sunrise to sunset, operate in a sector with absurd taxation regime, they can count on the government for nothing, and you want to see the agriculture sector to be the solution to all these social ills!
My point of view? Welcome to the twenty-first century! Questions about social responsibility and sustainability are getting critical to capitalist and entrepreneurial initiatives worldwide. If for-profit enterprises fail to realize that they are part of the problem, intentionally or not, the political process could impose conditions to their operations, one way or another. See the recent revival of populist movements all over the world.
My fear is that the solutions can be totally counterproductive if the Brazilian agri-sector fails to enter this dialogue - note, dialogue is the opposite to taking dogmatic positions. There is an imperative over the profession of agronomists to help seek solutions to social and environmental problems, alongside the broader society.
The good news is that many companies and sectors all over the world, with some exemplary cases in Brazil, are waking up to the fact that the agri-sector can and should be part of the solution seeking initiatives. When this happens, it becomes clear that sustainable social progress is not a utopia. It is, in fact, a palpable and inexorable reality. Only the societies, sectors, and companies that understand such a reality will prosper in the long run.
The beginning of this journey, totally new for Brazilian agronomists, starts with dialogue with the affected communities. It needs to evolve through the questioning of truths, which are rooted in the past and blind to the challenges of tomorrow. If there is no reevaluation of past dogmas, it is quite easy to fall for posturing and to take inflexible political positions. The biggest barrier to progress on this front is that, usually, the agricultural professionals have a strong technical background, but a socio-political understanding that is superficial. We must have the humility to learn, to listen, to develop the intention to find joint solutions.
I hope this short text is seen as an invitation to reflection.
Originally published in Portuguese
http://www.adealq.org.br/blog/Contraponto-(Katuaba;-F85)-1856
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